Narrative:

While working arrival east (are) during a period of light traffic; the mem TRACON experienced a complete loss of transmitter and receiver capability due to a known equipment issue that has yet to be repaired. I attempted to use the backup transmitter and receivers; but this did not work. I then attempted to use the 'emergency bypass jack;' but this did not work. I then attempted to use the pet 2000; but this radio did not work either. The radios were out for approximately 1 min. During this time I had 2 aircraft on the arrival route from the northeast at 10000 ft; 3 aircraft on the arrival route from the southeast descending from 10000 ft to 5000 ft on vectors to the runway 36R final approach course; and 1 departure heading 030 degrees at 3000 ft. I was not able to communicate with any of these aircraft; but thankfully there were no conflictions with any other aircraft. The final east and final west position were combined; and this controller had 3-4 aircraft on vectors to the east and west downwind/base leg entry for runways 36L and 36R. Arrival west had an unknown number of aircraft on vectors to the final approach course as well. Neither of these controllers were able to communicate with their aircraft. We later learned that mem TRACON and tower have experienced complete and total frequency loss on several instances during the past 2 weeks. This is due to the fact that 1) commercial power is interrupted for some reason; 2) the backup batteries are not strong enough to operate the transmitters and receivers and 3) the clutch is broken on the generator; so the generator is not able to engage to produce backup power. If this ever happens during a busy arrival or departure push; I don't see how we could not incur multiple loss of separation (or worse) between aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MEM TRACON CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING A COMPLETE RADIO FAILURE.

Narrative: WHILE WORKING ARR E (ARE) DURING A PERIOD OF LIGHT TFC; THE MEM TRACON EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF XMITTER AND RECEIVER CAPABILITY DUE TO A KNOWN EQUIP ISSUE THAT HAS YET TO BE REPAIRED. I ATTEMPTED TO USE THE BACKUP XMITTER AND RECEIVERS; BUT THIS DID NOT WORK. I THEN ATTEMPTED TO USE THE 'EMER BYPASS JACK;' BUT THIS DID NOT WORK. I THEN ATTEMPTED TO USE THE PET 2000; BUT THIS RADIO DID NOT WORK EITHER. THE RADIOS WERE OUT FOR APPROX 1 MIN. DURING THIS TIME I HAD 2 ACFT ON THE ARR RTE FROM THE NE AT 10000 FT; 3 ACFT ON THE ARR RTE FROM THE SE DSNDING FROM 10000 FT TO 5000 FT ON VECTORS TO THE RWY 36R FINAL APCH COURSE; AND 1 DEP HDG 030 DEGS AT 3000 FT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH ANY OF THESE ACFT; BUT THANKFULLY THERE WERE NO CONFLICTIONS WITH ANY OTHER ACFT. THE FINAL E AND FINAL W POS WERE COMBINED; AND THIS CTLR HAD 3-4 ACFT ON VECTORS TO THE E AND W DOWNWIND/BASE LEG ENTRY FOR RWYS 36L AND 36R. ARR W HAD AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF ACFT ON VECTORS TO THE FINAL APCH COURSE AS WELL. NEITHER OF THESE CTLRS WERE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR ACFT. WE LATER LEARNED THAT MEM TRACON AND TWR HAVE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE AND TOTAL FREQ LOSS ON SEVERAL INSTANCES DURING THE PAST 2 WKS. THIS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT 1) COMMERCIAL PWR IS INTERRUPTED FOR SOME REASON; 2) THE BACKUP BATTERIES ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO OPERATE THE XMITTERS AND RECEIVERS AND 3) THE CLUTCH IS BROKEN ON THE GENERATOR; SO THE GENERATOR IS NOT ABLE TO ENGAGE TO PRODUCE BACKUP PWR. IF THIS EVER HAPPENS DURING A BUSY ARR OR DEP PUSH; I DON'T SEE HOW WE COULD NOT INCUR MULTIPLE LOSS OF SEPARATION (OR WORSE) BTWN ACFT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.